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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

YEAH, SCREW BECKY FLADE!

Congratulations to "Lynn B.", the winner in Becky's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!

As an author I routinely scour the
internet for reviews. All the authors I know do. We live for them – die by
them. We beg, bleed, and plead for reviews. I chew on my nails in anticipation
of getting one; and when I do I analyze every word, even a positive one can
send me into fits, but a negative one can send me spinning. But surely notable,
establish authors like Stephen King and Nora Roberts wouldn’t lose any sleep
over what one random reader thinks. How could my opinion matter to them.

Seriously? Who am I?

I can just see it now. I post my
lackluster review and Nora Roberts promptly signs into her Facebook account
crying on the virtual shoulders of her author support group. “She just didn’t
get what I was trying to impart. Should I respond? Should I explain that what
she thinks was missing the editor had me remove? Does she even read that genre?
How could she be so mean????”

Then Nora would get angry. “Yeah, screw
Becky Flade!” [I would die a thousand deaths if Nora Roberts ever thought those
words. Of course just being on her radar would be the ultimate feather in my
cap.] She’d start calling me Princess Pinhead. And then the entire group would
start calling me Princess Pinhead. They’d avoid me on social media, not sending
me their awesome books to read. It would get abbreviated to PP. Which sounds
way to much like going #1, which some smart ass, probably from Philly, would
run with I’m sure. They’d reassure each other every time someone got a crappy
review by posting funny/clever pictures on-line ridiculing Princess Pinhead.

It’s not worth it. I can’t take that
kind of rejection over a review. Don’t hate me Nora. I’m not a Pinhead – I love
your books.

And hopefully, you’ll love my newest
book: Fated Desires. Read on for a
chance to win a free, signed paperback.

Jenna Gavin is searching for a fresh
start and, more importantly, for balance. Her heart, and perhaps the hands of
fate, have led her and her son to Trappers' Cove, Minnesota. Settling in the
small, quirky town, she's not in the market for a casual relationship but finds
herself in one with the young widower next door.

Former shortstop, Gabriel Foxx, is
drawn to his difficult new neighbor. The more the prickly divorcee tries to
keep him at arm's length, the more determined he is to break down her walls. He
can't avoid the passion Jenna inspires and his friendship with Finn has him
yearning for family, but Gabe won't allow himself to feel more.

When friendship grows complicated by
stronger emotions and mutual desire just isn't enough, will love be worth the
risk?

Enjoy the following excerpt from Fated Desires:

He hadn’t moved
and she could smell the mix of pine tree blended with fresh greens, warm wind,
pepper, mahogany, and water that was uniquely Gabriel. It was disconcerting. He
was disconcerting. “Could you back up some?”

“Why should I?”

“Because you’re invading my personal space.”

“This is your dance space, and this is my dance space?” He laughed and
though he didn’t step away he did lean back on his heels, giving the illusion
of distance.

“Isn’t that movie before your time?”

“Oh, a dig about my age. Excellent.”

“Not a dig, an observation.”

“I was born in 1977 and Dirty
Dancing came out in the late eighties. So the answer to your question is
no, it’s not before my time. And my sisters loved it.”

“You’re thirty-nine?”

“I’ll be thirty-nine in September. And I’m mature.”

“Yeah, right.” She snorted.

“You may or may not have been avoiding me, but you have been thinking
about me. Nice consolation prize.”

“How did you draw that conclusion?”

“Call it a hunch.”

“More like arrogance.”

“Tomayto, tomahto.” He stared at her mouth and saliva pooled under her
tongue. “I’ve been thinking about you too.”

“I never said I was.”

“Of course you were. You’ve been thinking about my age, right? Telling
yourself I’m too young for you? That means you’ve been thinking about doing
things with me where age might make a difference—not drinking coffee or talking
about books, for example.” He leaned in, crowding her again. “I’m not too
young.”

“What you are is delusional. And conceited.”

“I preferred arrogant. Sounded more noble.”

“Did you come in here to purchase something or to annoy me?”

“Both. But I changed my mind about the book.” He braced his hands on
the edge of the desk, trapping her. His mouth was inches from hers and his
voice a whisper, “I can’t stop thinking about your lips.”

GIVEAWAY:

I know my opinion is biased, but I
truly love that scene. Dirty Dancing
is one of my favorite movies and it becomes an ‘inside thing’ between Jenna and
Gabe. Leave a quote from your favorite romantic movie in the comments below for
a chance to win a paperback copy of Fated
Desires.

Home is where the heart is and I make mine with my very own
knight in slightly tarnished armor in southeastern Pennsylvania. When I’m not
busy living my own happily ever after, I’m writing about someone else’s.

Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST May 25th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com with a subject title of JCR GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.

14 comments:

Congrats on your latest book, Becky. I love the movie While You Were Sleeping, especially the almost wedding scene that Sandra Bullock balked at marrying Peter that goes like:Lucy: I'm in love with your son. Her would be father in law: I knowLucy pointed at Peter: Not that one. Then she pointed to Jack, Peter's brother: That one.

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